Genomic characterization of historical Jinlingnan individuals: insights into genetic continuity and trans-Eurasian signals in eastern China

Abstract

The genetic impact of historically documented trans-Eurasian interactions in China remains poorly understood due to the scarcity of genome-wide ancient DNA data. This study presents genome-wide SNP data from 10 individuals excavated from the Jinlingnan cemetery in Zibo City, Shandong Province, dating from the Tang (618–907 AD) to the Qing (1644–1912 AD) dynasties. Although located in the agricultural heartland of eastern China rather than along major Silk Road corridors, the site provides a valuable context for investigating the integration of non-local populations into inland societies. Our analyses reveal that the Jinlingnan individuals primarily derived their ancestry from the Middle Yellow River region, showing strong genetic continuity with both contemporaneous and modern northern Chinese populations. Notably, a subset of seven individuals exhibited detectable genetic contributions from Western Eurasians or Central Asians, with proportions ranging from 1.5% to 12.1%, providing direct evidence of gene flow from trans-Eurasian interactions. Furthermore, modern Han populations in Shandong can be modeled as deriving the vast majority of their ancestry (~ 95%) from a Jinlingnan-related source, with a minor contribution (~ 5%) from southern Chinese-related groups. These results delineate the demographic history of the Jinlingnan population, characterized by foundational Central Plains continuity, localized incorporation of exogenous components, and subsequent north–south interactions. This study demonstrates that the demographic impact of trans-Eurasian exchange extended far beyond Silk Road hubs, reaching deep into inland eastern China.